Africa: Dispatches from a Fragile Continent

There is a dearth of good literature in English about the continent of Africa and its general history, and a great deal of ignorance for the outsider looking in. With this book, Blaine Harden made an admiral effort to give an insight into the continent, creating vivid pictures of very unique pockets of African history, society and culture. Now dated by over two decades, this is both a readable analysis of the modern history of certain African nations and a source of history itself, thanks to Har [...]

My first read on issues affecting contemporary Africa and I loved it. Harden not only gives a balanced opinion about a continent often seen as being plagued by hopelessness, he takes readers through all that real and imagined desolation and manages to conjure a sense of optimism. Apart from learning a little history, I thoroughly enjoyed his literal prowess and witty humor. I hope he writes a 21st century sequel.

This book was banned in Kenya because of what it had to say about the leadership at that time. Harden did a great job of showing the reality of the time. Wish he had continued to write about the continent through the intervening years.

Good on Kenya, quite enthusiastic on Nigeria, some interesting stuff about kinship and the Big Men, but it's dated. The author thinks discredited free market policies and structural adjustment programmes work. He was writing in the End of History 90s though

A bit dated now but for its time, a very well-balanced view of Africa. Presents it as a continent of incredible people plagued by appalling despotic leaders, all completely unaccountable to anyone.

This really opens my American's eyes to the blindness we permit mass media to not discuss. Sometime smells rotten and I think it starts in my wallet.